CONTINUOUS LOW-DOSE SUBCUTANEOUS DESFERRIOXAMINE (DFO) TO PREVENT ALLERGIC MANIFESTATIONS IN PATIENTS WITH IRON OVERLOAD

In some patients compliance to subcutaneous desferrioxamine therapy is reduced because of allergic symptoms. Effective drug desensitization consists of bringing patients to tolerate the same mode of administrat ion. We evaluated three thalassemic patients with severe allergies to desferrioxamine. Each patient received weekly three prefilled infusors with desferrioxamine 4 g/48 ml/48 h for s.c. therapy. Follow-up was p erformed for 12 consecutive weeks. During follow-up no allergic events were noted. The s-ferritin levels decreased from 2583 mu g/l+/-485 to 1916 mu g/l+/-275 (mean decrease 25.8%, p = 0.038). Compliance to the infusional system was excellent. Our results show that continuous inf usion of desferrioxamine using a new infusional delivery system is eff ective in preventing allergic reactions and in reducing iron overload.